Family of Asteraceae. Homeland of the Canary Islands. The genus has more than 50 species.
Some species are isolated in a separate genus Pericallis Pericallis. Including, the well-known Cineraria cruenta Cineraria bloody is now called Pericallis bloody Pericallis cruenta - this is the correct name.
But in this case, it turns out that in the genus Cineraria there are practically no ornamental domestic plants. The only species sometimes grown is Cineraria saxifraga, native to East Africa. This is a low herbaceous plant, 20-30 cm high, with a rather spreading dense crown. The leaves are light green, not pubescent, tiny, lobed, shaped like a fan with a wavy edge, only 1.2-1.5 cm long. Inflorescences are small yellow daisies, quite numerous.
Care for Cineraria
Temperature: Cool all the time, in summer 18-22 ° С, in winter optimally 12-13 ° С, not higher than 15 ° С and not lower than 8 ° С.
Lighting: Bright diffused light, east or west window sill is best.
Watering: Plentiful in summer, with drying at the top of the pot. Water for watering is used warm, soft. Does not tolerate strong drying of the soil .
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, fertilizers for succulents or ornamental flowering plants, in a dose two times less than recommended.
Air humidity: Cineraria loves moist air, so it is advisable to keep it on a tray with wet pebbles or expanded clay.
Transplant: Cineraria are planted in the spring in low and not too spacious pots. Drainage (expanded clay or cork) is required to the bottom of the pot. The soil mixture should be nutritious and loose, take 2 parts of the leaf earth, 1 part of the pine bark or vermiculite and 1/2 part of the sand.
Reproduction: Cineraria saxifrage breeds very easily by dividing the bush before flowering, seeds, cuttings. Seeds are sown in April, in wide plates, in a mixture of sand and peat. Cover with glass or film, germinate at 22-23 ° C. Young plants are planted several in one pot, with good care they form lush flowering curtains.